Never ever sign up for a travel nursing assignment with Advantage RN. Let me go through MY issues, then make your own decision.
1. My (first) recruiter, Matt, told us that we would be fully reimbursed for all travel expenses from Pittsburgh to Phoenix including gas, we would receive a $250 completion bonus and when asked about housing, he told me to look on Rent.com. Nice.
2. After Matt suddenly disappeared, we signed a contract with David for a 13 week assignment in Phoenix. Now this contract (and ALL Advantage RN contracts) stated that I had 36 guaranteed hours per week. GUARANTEED. I looked on their website and found this quote, "Guaranteed hours means GUARANTEED weekly pay!" his is a lie :-). More to follow on this. There also ended up being NO completion bonus and NO travel reimbursement.
3. As I was driving from Pittsburgh to Phoenix, I received a phone call from Advantage RN's director/manager of so and so, Brandon, who informed me that I no longer had an apartment in Phoenix because of some miscommunication with the housing department and that they would "work hard" to find me another one. They did, and I must admit, it was nice, but this forced me to stay in an Advantage RN provided "hotel" for a week.
4. The Motel 6 at the corner of Indian School Road and Black Canyon Freeway in downtown Phoenix is not exactly the Hilton. Apparently the almighty dollar was the victor over customer satisfaction during their hotel search. When I wasn't fending off roaches, I was busy watching my neighbors, who apparently LIVED at the Motel 6, get arrested every night. GHETTO. But don't worry, Advantage RN feels "terrible" about this "nightmare assignment" and they would send "gift baskets" to both me and my girlfriend who I was traveling with.
5. One single $50 gift card to the Hard Rock Cafe. Thats $25 each for me and my girlfriend. THAT was their apology. Seeing as how they kept both of our $2,500 bonuses that the hospital provided, it's not like they couldn't afford to spend a little more. And this assignment hasn't even started yet.
6. So guaranteed hours means guaranteed weekly pay. 36 hours was MY guarantee! So when I had a shift canceled for the first time by the hospital, I spoke to another nurse with Advantage RN who had also been canceled but was paid for it, JUST LIKE THEY PROMISED :wink_smile: So I called my recruiter, left a message and sure enough, I GOT PAID! Maybe this won't be so bad after all!
7. When I was canceled the second time, their story had changed. They danced around what was stated on their contract, tried to say that the Advantage RN policy is to only reimburse the first canceled shift, then they would look for a new contract at another hospital if you get canceled again (BS). Nonetheless, I wasn't paid for it. Same for the third cancellation. I attempted to argue what the contract said, they pretended that it didn't say it.
8. Let me just mention that I didn't hear from my actual recruiter until 2 months into my assignment. When I mentioned this to him in an e-mail, his response was "I didn't know I had to keep in constant contact, I'll call you every other day if it will make you feel better."
9. After my contract had FINALLY been completed and I had already signed on with much friendlier, much more stable American Mobile, my girlfriend received an e-mail from our recruiter which stated that I was "very rude" to our short term housing director about some issue regarding "vacuum sealing" my clothes and that I should stop "treating people like they are beneath me." I contacted the housing director only to find out that she was talking about somebody completely different, and she stated that I was "a doll."
10. As of this post I have threatened legal action to obtain my money for 2 missed shifts and Advantage RN has 4 days to pay me before a court subpoena is filed. My cousin is a lawyer so I won't have to worry about legal fees, which is nice since I wasn't getting paid anyway. Heather and Rachael at American Mobile have been outstanding and they have an excellent support network. They are very quick in responding and I have yet to find an issue with them.
11. In the last e-mail from my former recruiter, he stated that it was unfortunate that there were so many "issues." Yes, he quoted it. As if the above doesn't prove that these were valid issues.
12. Deleted
13. Lastly, we met 5 other nurses in Phoenix who were with Advantage RN and by the end of our assignment, they too had all switched to other companies. STAY AWAY FROM ADVANTAGE RN!!!
I couldn't disagree more with this post! I have been a traveler for several years now and have worked with several companies. Normally I choose my assignments based on location and pay alone; so I too was excited about Advantage RN's guaranteed hours. Which was the deciding factor in choosing the company to work for. I have had a great experience with the company and for this reason I have decided to continue as a traveler. I have never experienced anything close to the description above with any of the multiple recruiters I have worked with.
haha if the above post isn't an advantage rn recruiter/staff member i dont know what is. i have been traveling for a couple of years and started with advantage rn. it was miserable. i know many who have traveled with them. i know none who had a good experience. the original post is unfortunate but sounds eerily similar to my situation and to other stories i've heard about this company. i can assure u folks, the above poster who had a positive experience (if it is a real post) is the anomaly. this is not a good company.
Well I am not an Advantage RN recruiter and I am glad that there are 2 sides to every story.
I have worked for advantage RN about 3 years now and they are about the only travel company that I will travel with anymore- I have tried many others. In fact Brandon is my recruiter. I have never experienced any of these problems with them. I actually stay with Advantage RN because they are so personable. I don't just feel like another nurse on there call list. I hear from Brandon at least 1-2 times a week if not more.
As for the post above someone sounds a little needy!!!!!!
I don't think anyone made you stay in the motel 6. If you didn't like it you should have left not complained about it. I don't think anyone would have put you in a hotel like that if they truly knew what it was like. It's not like Advantage RN or any other travel company stays in these hotels and puts people there intentionally.
In my opinion Advantage RN is one of the best companies to work for. I get good pay, they are easy to work with and my recruiter has always been there when needed. If I have a problem it gets fixed. I usually do 48 hours a week on assignments and I have not had a problem yet- in 3 years.
So I am glad that both of you can meet a nurse who has had a good experience with them.
I think this is something that we face as travel nurses- the recruiter you have makes your assignment or breaks it. That is why it is hard for me to believe the things that are posted about Advantage RN and Brandon. I would refer anyone to this company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just an update: advantage rn has been working with me to resolve pay issues including paying me $250 for my holiday bonus even though I had a shift cancelled over the holidays. I see that some of you had good experiences with advantage rn and I'm glad you did. I guess maybe the stars weren't aligned for me. Its just one person's experience.
Your recruiter makes or breaks you, but your recruiter will always be backed up by her superiors.
so next time you don't get paid, don't get what you contracted for, FILE A Complaint with that state LABOR COMMISSION. I got my money, by friend got his money, you will too.
I'm glad your problem is resolving. I have had pretty good luck with advantagern. My 2 complaints were #1 I finished a contract mid-December and finally just received my completion bonus last friday. That's 10 weeks later. I know the company has to wait until they get paid from the facility but I asked every week about it and got several different answers from several different people. #2 I take the tax free money for living expenses or whatever they call it which makes my base pay about $15/hr and then the rest is tax free. My gripe is the overtime is not time and a half of my entire hourly pay, although it's more than $22 which they probably could get away with. I put in overtime every week and would like the time and a half.
you guys who take the advantage bla bla bla,
are being screwed with the time and
1/2. No less then $35 an hour with time and a half after 8 in California
Airfare paid, rental car paid, furnished apartment with housewares, phone local calls paid is what I am used to. Recruiters say they pay everyone the same but they don't, when I was making $40 an hr, my friend was making $36.
Hey, I won't go into all my reasons why I don't think Advantage RN is the best company out there. Only to say I don't think they respect their Nurses and they will place you in hades if it will make them a quick and fast buck. Not interested in your career, happiness, needs. If you want a recruiter that will place you where you want, provide the housing you desire, look somewhere else.
Indeed, stay away from Advantage RN.
They are incompetant (misrepresented what the potential assignment was)nasty, the "Compliance Officer" a nitwit named Megan B. told me that I couldn't have a copy of my own application and references (WRONG) and when I challenged her and asked who her boss was , this paragon of professionalism said "God" and hung up on me. I then had the unique pleasure of speaking to the CFO - Jeff K. who said that he didn't know if little Ms Megan's remarks were approptiate or not and suggested that this little twit would know better than an experienced nurse what the compliance rules typically were. This officious and sarcstic mini executive, for this tiny company, said that he would get back to me. He of course, did not.
What a gaggle of losers and unprofessional slobs. If the CFO can't show any respect for the nurses that put his salary in his pocket - whom he lives off of - we can only expect that his underlings would be incompetant frauds as well.
The recruiter named Carol S. didn't even know the exact nature of the job she was offering (which she called me for)and was in all kinds of a hurry but then did no follow up.
What a losing operation..
We can expect that some big company will gobble up this low end bunch of parasites, and there will then be one less nuisance and many fewer liars and incompetant boobs for nurses to be bothered with.
hmmmm,
I am currently working with AdvantageRN and they have been more than awesome. My recruiter is Jeannie and she has bent over backwards to get me the position I wanted and I worked out all the hours and such in my contract. I will definately go with AdvantageRN again.
Matt
Mattress,
It's great that Advantage RN works for you. But heed other's advice. If any promblem occcurs, you may find it not all you think it is. I've also had promblems with their "compliance people". Been charged double amount for housing the last week of my assignment despite written contract and when I called housing they refuse to provide explaination. Been screamed at for errors on their part e.g. housing, compliance errors. They deduct housing from your check but tell you they won't place you in a suitable apartment because "you can't afford it" when the leasing manager reported to me their credit "didn't fly" due to poor references from other complexs related "slow to pay". This only about half of the promblems I've had. Good luck, I hope it continues to be a good experience for you.
Considering the strong opinions people have on this post, why are there no reviews for Advantage RN in the review section. Please, let's utilize this site for all it is worth! It helps all of us.:)
I know this is an old thread, but I could not help but to comment. I have worked for Advantage RN for over four years. Been with lots of other companies too. But never had anyone treat me so well. My wife and I travel together and they consistently place us in high paying jobs. Never heard of anyone making more on an assignment. But many, many, who make much less. I have stayed with Advantage RN for four years for a reason. My recruiter is Brandon R. He is based in the NC office. They have Ohio, NC, and Florida offices. From Cape Cod to Alaska to NC, they have always found me the best assignments.
I've been a nurse for three and a half years. I've been with AdvantageRN
for two and a half years. No real complaints. Excellent take-home pay (about double what i made as a staff nurse) Dwayne M. is my recruiter based out of Ohio. He is in constant contact with me, sometimes calling just to say hello and to see if everything is going well. I couldnt ask for more. Company provided housing is PRICEY!! Do yourself a favor and find your own housing. Your paycheck will thank you.
I wish when I read this posting I had listened to it. I took an assignment with Advantage RN in Los Angeles. I was told in an E-mail by my recruiter that I would receive my hourly wage plus a housing allowance since I was getting my own housing. When I received my contract it was extremly confusing and my attorney which I have now contacted agrees with me. I should have known something was up when they required me to have the contract back within 24 hours of them sending it to me. Imagine my suprise after being here 2 weeks and not receiving any housing allowance that according to Advantage RN I am not getting a housing allowance. I would like to say again that I have an E-mail from my recruiter that said I was getting 37/hour plus 525/week housing. I am now having to work overtime shifts and still have to put some of my expenses on a credit card because they LIED to me. I would not have signed the contract if I had been aware that was all the money I would be making. My attorney advised me that I should file a complaint with the State of Ohio wage and hour board because the contract is to confusing. The name of the company should be Take Advantage of an RN. Another thing that has made me look closer at this company is the fact that I have had 3 recruiters in the short time that I have had the displeasure of working with this company. My advise, STAY AWAY FROM ADVANTAGE RN OR THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU!!!!
Jeff, I am so sorry. It's amazing that they are able to do that. I filed a complaint with the Ohio Labor Board with tons of documentation, they sent it back as a civil matter. An employment attorney that I contacted stated that they illegally took my money but quoted me a huge fee not including expenses. I gave up. But I sincerely hope that you have a positive outcome. I know at one time they had a complaint also filed against them with the local BBB. Ohio needs to investigate the complaints lodged against them.
Advantage RN is ok, just most of the travel companies. However, I was told I would receive travel compensation, and did not.
They support their client not their traveler, but many companies do. The best one can do, is work with several different companies until you find your fit. They all have their good and bad points. The best company I traveled with was Medical Staffing Network.
Hi Jeff-
Just make sure you read those contracts before you sign them, no matter what the time element is. It is important, once you sign, that is it. They are hard to argue. Good luck to you and your wife.
Mattress-
I am glad for you. I had the opposite experience and it really was horrible. The upside was the money was excellent, but my grades for school suffered as a result. The facility was completely rigid so, I don't know what to believe. I'd probably go with them again, as my recruiter was excellent and always there for me. Housing was excellent and the person for that went the extra mile for me when I needed it. I have nothing really bad to say about Advantage RN except read your contracts and know what you are signing. That goes for anything. Good luck to all. :)
I know some of these posts are old, but I wanted to post about my experience anyway. I am new to this website and a newer travel nurse. In Dec, it will be 2 years since I started traveling. My first attempt was with an a awful company. The recruiters (I felt) talked down to me, the housing they put me in was in a unsafe part of town. (my vehicle was broken into twice and I don't drive anything special) Also my paychecks were always off.
I am on my second assignemwnt with Advnatage RN and haven't experienced any of the issues some have mentioned below. Maybe they have changed their ways? The recruiters have always been helpful, I loved the private housing they put me in. Pay is good and I have benefits. Not a lot to complain about when others around the country seem to be going through such a difficult time.
anyway, that's just my experience.
Recently, Advantage RN acquired two companies, one based in Centerville and another in San Diego, Calif. that it estimates could boost Advantage RN from about $50 million in revenue in 2011 to $80 million for 2012 and more than $100 million by 2014. To improve its quality, the company implemented new metrics to evaluate nurses and became more active in its relationships with hospitals and employees
I am new at advantage RN . I need help with legal advice. Has any of you guys terminated a contract and Advantage RN get back on you really bad? I started a contract and didn't really like the coordinator. It was my first assignment with them. then I told my recruiter about my inconveniences and all she can tell me is "at least you have a job". ok I get that. Not really happy. Then a great opportunity came and got accepted in a hospital with bigger pay, better position, and full time option. So I wrote to my recruiter and told her, I will not finish my contract since they don't reimburse gas and accommodation (BTW, I drive 1.5 to 2 hrs back and forth) and it's really tiring. I will pay any penalties. She replied and gave me all this "you insulted me"... "tell your perm job that YOU have a professional obligation to Advantage RN"... Ok I get it. But DOn't I have the right to advance my career and choose what's financially will suit me? She also told me that I need to pay 4000$ fine that will be incurred from the hospital.
My question is, I don't have the right to cancel a contract and is the fine really that big? Because when I looked back at the contract, it didn't mentioned about the 4000$ fine from vendor. I read 500$ and I need to pay whatever expenses they paid for me. Please advise me and if I need to consult this to a lawyer as well. Thanks!
I am new at advantage RN . I need help with legal advice. Has any of you guys terminated a contract and Advantage RN get back on you really bad? I started a contract and didn't really like the coordinator. It was my first assignment with them. then I told my recruiter about my inconveniences and all she can tell me is "at least you have a job". ok I get that. Not really happy. Then a great opportunity came and got accepted in a hospital with bigger pay, better position, and full time option. So I wrote to my recruiter and told her, I will not finish my contract since they don't reimburse gas and accommodation (BTW, I drive 1.5 to 2 hrs back and forth) and it's really tiring. I will pay any penalties. She replied and gave me all this "you insulted me"... "tell your perm job that YOU have a professional obligation to Advantage RN"... Ok I get it. But DOn't I have the right to advance my career and choose what's financially will suit me? She also told me that I need to pay 4000$ fine that will be incurred from the hospital.
My question is, I don't have the right to cancel a contract and is the fine really that big? Because when I looked back at the contract, it didn't mentioned about the 4000$ fine from vendor. I read 500$ and I need to pay whatever expenses they paid for me. Please advise me and if I need to consult this to a lawyer as well. Thanks!
